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Alpharius wrote:I mean, I'd love for GW to FINALLY do this for 40K 'proper', but this will more than do for now!

You and me both, but at least we finally have an AdMech book, no matter what version of the game it’s for. That can be celebrated at the very least.

Got the K Bestiary and I find the narrative used to partially describe the creatures, i.e. in short story format as recollected by someone, a bit jarring. Other than that, I like this a lot.

FYI, picked up The Lathe Worlds at my FLGS over the weekend. Great book and resource on Ad Mech!

My bionic heart just skipped a beat... Awesome!

As expected!

FFG wrote:Master the Mission
Announcing The Game Master's Kit for Only War



“We cannot suffer any more losses, or we will lose this front. This cannot stand, Colonel Garn. Allow me to take a contingent of our best men, and we will end this threat once and for all."
–Last Recorded Words of Lieutenant Uron Halle, 23rd Maccabian Janissaries

Guide your squad to success over their mission with The Game Master’s Kit for Only War! This helpful resource features a sturdy Game Master’s screen, which displays eye-catching Only War art on one side and a wealth of convenient references on the other. In addition, The Game Master’s Kit includes a 32-page full color booklet with a complete adventure, a selection of useful NPCs, and helpful advice for GMs about managing comrades and more.


Old Soldiers

Challenge your players with the included adventure, “Old Soldiers,” which takes a group of squadmates to the feral and war-torn world of Virbius. A base of operations in an ongoing struggle against the Severan Dominate, Virbius is an Emperor-forsaken rock inhabited by tribal, combat-bike riding nomads.

But on a mission deep behind enemy lines, the player characters will learn a disturbing truth about the Imperium’s foes. Then, they’ll have to use all the cunning, ingenuity, and determination they can muster to return to Imperial lines with their lives, and with vital information about Virbius’s true dangers.



With a wealth of useful content, The Game Master’s Kit is the perfect enhancement for your Only War experience. Look for it on store shelves later this year!

I picked up the lathe world book and it's great, lots of resource material and good classes...

Except one.

Crimson guard.

Who in their right mind gives a weak semi-auto tearing hellgun, a stupid knife with razor sharp, the option to buy tech use up to +20 at rank 1 and free ap 6 all armor to a RANK 1 guardsman? (There's more, I just am not listing it all)

What the hell are you doing FFG...

You realise that by the time you buy everything on the Venatorii's advance table you'll have spent over 5000xp, and that's not including taking anything from any other Guard advance table or taking any characteristic upgrades.

Even if all you take is Tech-Use +10 and Tech-Use +20 you'll be at Rank 2.

Regarding the Only War GM kit, I wonder what kind of NPC's we'll be provided with. I was also expecting some sort of random thingy generator, like with the other GM kits. Oh well, still pre-ordered it along with the big book at the FLGS. Last week of the open beta already, how time flies. Hopefully the digital version will be released at the same time as the actual print version, should make the inevitable waiting period of a few months a bit more enjoyable.

As for the Koronus Bestiary, the odd story recollections have grown onto me, it's certainly a bit jarring like that, like when I first got IA8 and the completely different narrative style found there. Plus, some of the beasties included are very, very nicely done indeed. And finally some more info on the Rak'Gol and Stryxis, not definite answers, not that I need them, but at the very least some more tasty fluff, especially for the Rak'Gol, should make the whole "sector boogey men" myth that surrounds them a bit nastier.

BrookM wrote:Regarding the Only War GM kit, I wonder what kind of NPC's we'll be provided with. I was also expecting some sort of random thingy generator, like with the other GM kits. Oh well, still pre-ordered it along with the big book at the FLGS. Last week of the open beta already, how time flies. Hopefully the digital version will be released at the same time as the actual print version, should make the inevitable waiting period of a few months a bit more enjoyable.

Oddly enough I have no idea what's in the GM kit. I had nothing to do with its development. Maybe the extra NPC thing is in place of the usual "generator" or "GM tips" that have been in other books. Maybe the OW Core Rulebook is so full to the brim with stuff that they couldn't fit all the NPC's they wanted in? Again - just speculation. I don't actually know what's in the GM kit.

BrookM wrote:As for the Koronus Bestiary, the odd story recollections have grown onto me, it's certainly a bit jarring like that, like when I first got IA8 and the completely different narrative style found there. Plus, some of the beasties included are very, very nicely done indeed. And finally some more info on the Rak'Gol and Stryxis, not definite answers, not that I need them, but at the very least some more tasty fluff, especially for the Rak'Gol, should make the whole "sector boogey men" myth that surrounds them a bit nastier.

It's not all first person narrative. Generally it's there to introduce us to a creature or section, and then we get to the "regular fluff" afterwards. I like it for the Arch-Militant's dry humour and cynicism. I'm really happy they went that way with the book. It certainly made it different from the other two bestiaries. Plus the depth of stuff in the book is great. Every DW player needs it for the Eldar stuff, it gives us tons of Ork stuff (combine that with the rest of the RT Ork stuff and you've pretty much got everything bar proper Weirdboy rules, but they're in the Navis Primer), plus we get loads more creatures and those wonderful creature generators.

I want to do "Big Game Hunter" Endeavours now, using those creature rules. Each player plays a Rogue Trader and maybe 1 or 2 simple retainers, and they're going on safari!!!


Automatically Appended Next Post:

juraigamer wrote:Who in their right mind gives a weak semi-auto tearing hellgun, a stupid knife with razor sharp, the option to buy tech use up to +20 at rank 1 and free ap 6 all armor to a RANK 1 guardsman? (There's more, I just am not listing it all)

The Lathe-Lasrifle is a good gun. No doubts there. But it's not the best gun. Great base damage, but rather than Jamming it Fatigues you. That's -10 to everything you do. A good trade-off for (almost) unlimited ammo. The Venator Blade, c'mon, it's a knife! With Razorsharp it manages a mighty Pen 4. And if you buy both Tech-Use Skill levels at Rank 1 you'll be Rank 2 already with no other upgrades beyond starting abilities. He'll still only have 10~ wounds. He's no Marine.

H.B.M.C. wrote:Oddly enough I have no idea what's in the GM kit. I had nothing to do with its development. Maybe the extra NPC thing is in place of the usual "generator" or "GM tips" that have been in other books. Maybe the OW Core Rulebook is so full to the brim with stuff that they couldn't fit all the NPC's they wanted in? Again - just speculation. I don't actually know what's in the GM kit.

Could be that. Here's hoping we at least get the annoying Munitorum supply officer to bully.

H.B.M.C. wrote:It's not all first person narrative. Generally it's there to introduce us to a creature or section, and then we get to the "regular fluff" afterwards. I like it for the Arch-Militant's dry humour and cynicism. I'm really happy they went that way with the book. It certainly made it different from the other two bestiaries. Plus the depth of stuff in the book is great. Every DW player needs it for the Eldar stuff, it gives us tons of Ork stuff (combine that with the rest of the RT Ork stuff and you've pretty much got everything bar proper Weirdboy rules, but they're in the Navis Primer), plus we get loads more creatures and those wonderful creature generators.

Dry humour and an undying love for that hat of hers. But yes, it goes nicely with my Creatures Anathema from Dark Heresy. I'm guessing Mark f the Xenos is the Deathwatch counterpart. Any entries worth mentioning in that one that make it worthwhile getting?

Also, I was kinda-sorta hoping for an extra Only War demo adventure to hit us by now. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Dark Heresy, Rogue Trader and Deathwatch all got a small follow-up adventure to their Free RPG day adventure. Not sure on Black Crusade though.

Any word on a Last Chancers Suppliment?

FFG tends to stick to their own fluff, not BL fluff. Besides, Only War is broad enough that you could do your own Last Chancers within the basic rules.

Yeah, I'm personally not a fan of doing stuff with established characters.

From what I've heard from the head of the Librarians, the upcoming supplements will be rad indeed. At least one book, or part of it will be dedicated to even more types of regiment. Hell yes.

BrookM wrote:From what I've heard from the head of the Librarians, the upcoming supplements will be rad indeed. At least one book, or part of it will be dedicated to even more types of regiment. Hell yes.

You've heard from whom? And what have you heard?

I no speaky Engrish. I hear notheeng gringo. Methinks you're lookeeng een thee wrong plaaaace.

Damn it, I'm getting Only War fever again, not healthy, especially not with the big release still some aeons off.

Weird as it may sound - I'm yet to play a game. Just haven't had time to actually sit down and play anything. Not even the Free RPG day booklet.

It's been a while since we've played anything actually. My group is hopeless!

I know that sentiment all too well, I haven't seen the rest of my RT group since May and we won't get around for another session until sometime September.

We're meeting this weekend, but ironically all the time I've spent working on RPG stuff means I've had no time to play it (or prepare for it, as I'm almost always the GM). So we're probably just going to end up playing Necromunda all weekend (not that that's a bad thing!).

I got into dark heresy, death watch and rouge trader and was semi excited still need to get black crusade. But I am pumped for this and will more then likely buy all the expansions. In the words of Fry “shut up and take my money”. I am sorry it has been asked more then likely but what is a schedule release date ?

I'd say soon, seeing as we're in the last week of the open beta, with one more update hitting us later tonight or tomorrow. Yay.

ghostmaker wrote:I got into dark heresy, death watch and rouge trader and was semi excited still need to get black crusade. But I am pumped for this and will more then likely buy all the expansions. In the words of Fry “shut up and take my money”. I am sorry it has been asked more then likely but what is a schedule release date ?

Release date for Black Crusade? That's been out for a while now. Only War? Well... I'd say October/November at the earliest. From what we've seen these things tend to take a while, and they're only just getting done with the Beta.

Does make me wonder, what will the Collector's Edition of Only War look like and contain? *wibble*

I'm thinking Ammo Can. Or armor plate.

Sorry meant just for only war.

And Week 7!

FFG wrote:Only War Beta: Week Seven
Updates From the Developers on the Only War Beta Test



Hello Only War Beta Testers!

We are approaching the conclusion to the Only War Beta. This will be the last weekly update, and there is only a week and a half left to submit your feedback. Make sure you get all of your emails and forum posts submitted before the end of the day on August 24th, and make sure to check out our final weekly focus:


Veteran Soldiers



You have waged a glorious campaign against the enemies of the Imperium over the course of this Beta, and you are all now true veterans of the Spinward Front. In honour of your veteran status, it is only appropriate that this week we take a closer look at veteran characters in Only War. If your characters don’t already have at least 5000 total experience points, grant them enough to get up to 5000 (and maybe give them a decent bump to their Logistics Rating). Then, pit them against the adversaries from Chapter X: Adversaries & NPCs and consider the following questions: Were there any adversaries that felt difficult, even at this power level? Were there any adversaries that thematically felt too easy at this power level? Did your group find any rules interactions with Adversary special abilities that you were unsure how to resolve?

As always, remember that in addition to this week’s focus, feedback on any and all sections of the Beta is welcome, and feedback on any changes introduced in this week’s update is especially helpful.

Week Seven Update (high-res pdf, 34.9 MB)
Week Seven Update (low-res, 2.7 MB)

Make sure to remember to download this week’s update, and check the Beta support page for all the most recent updates to the Only War Beta rules.

Let's see what they did to my precious precious tanks this week!

BrookM wrote:Does make me wonder, what will the Collector's Edition of Only War look like and contain? *wibble*

No clue, but I think that this collector's edition will be one I get. If they do that name thing I want to get "Commissar Calgar" put into it!

Knowing FFG, a hand-written piece of parchment will be included for sure, maybe with a pair of decent dog-tags unlike the Buckle Bulldog crap BL sold a few years ago from their own site.

In other news, debating whether to lower the TB on orks or to knock their amount of wounds in half instead for future Only War sessions. The regular old lasgun is having a mite bit of trouble against skins, especially groups of them.

Sorry if i missed it, but whens the actual release date for Only War?

October / November at the earliest, though us Europeans might have to wait even longer, probably not until January, this is FFG we're talking about.

H.B.M.C. wrote:

Automatically Appended Next Post:

juraigamer wrote:Who in their right mind gives a weak semi-auto tearing hellgun, a stupid knife with razor sharp, the option to buy tech use up to +20 at rank 1 and free ap 6 all armor to a RANK 1 guardsman? (There's more, I just am not listing it all)

The Lathe-Lasrifle is a good gun. No doubts there. But it's not the best gun. Great base damage, but rather than Jamming it Fatigues you. That's -10 to everything you do. A good trade-off for (almost) unlimited ammo. The Venator Blade, c'mon, it's a knife! With Razorsharp it manages a mighty Pen 4. And if you buy both Tech-Use Skill levels at Rank 1 you'll be Rank 2 already with no other upgrades beyond starting abilities. He'll still only have 10~ wounds. He's no Marine.

I don't care. At rank 1 you have a guardsman with ap 6, at TB of around 4 and the rest of the party is nothing in comparison, you can't make an encounter that challenges the crimson guard guy and doesn't wipe the party.

This class should be for rank 4-6 guardsman, not rank 1.

I also have ot add my voice to the chorus of people complaining about Regiment creation. Most of the options that can be afforded together make no sense. Unless tanks can do close order drill somehow?

I had wondered why No-0ne was so defensive all the time, but seeing how much they changed it between what he wrote and what they put in the book this time, I can understand it.